The history of Columbia county, Wisconsin, containing an account of its settlement, Part 69

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899, [from old catalog] ed; Western historical company, chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 1104

USA > Wisconsin > Columbia County > The history of Columbia county, Wisconsin, containing an account of its settlement > Part 69

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HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

Executive Committee-C. Collipp, A. McDonald, P. Van Ness, R. T. Graves, P. Houston, J. R. Jones, F. Clark Smith, J. W. Bobinson and C. Roys.

1864-Fair held at Columbus September 21, 22 and 23; receipts, $619; disbursements, $480; Officers-President, J. O. Eaton ; Vice Presidents, R. McConochie and J. Q. Adams : Secretary, H. B. Munn ; Treasurer, F. C. Curtis. Executive Committee-J. P. McGregor, A. McDonald, H. M. Ayer, J. W. Robinson, E. Fairbanks, A. W. Ingalsbee, J. O. Jones, J. B. Smith and Henry Converse.

1865-Fair held at Portage September 19, 20 and 21; receipts, $687 ; disbursements, $632. Officers-President, J. Q. Adams ; Vice Presidents, H. S. Haskell and J. O. Jones ; Secretary, C. C. Britt ; Treasurer, J. B. Dwinnell. Executive Committee-J. Van Ness, C. Collipp, P. Mckenzie, F. C. Curtis, R. B. Sanderson, A. W. Ingalsbee, R. McConochie, J. B. Jones and J. B. Smith.

1866-Fair held at Portage September 19, 20 and 21; receipts, $812; disbursements, $992, including $112 expended in building Floral Hall. Officers-President, J. Q. Adams ; Vice Presidents, H. S. Haskell and F. C. Curtis ; Secretary, C. C. Britt ; Treasurer, J. B. Dwinnell. Executive Committee-Cyrus Hill, R. O. Loomis, David Owen, J. T. Lewis, L. H. Doyle, J. W. Robinson, R. T. Graves, R. McConochie and J. R. Jones.

1867-Fair held at Columbus September 18, 19 and 20; receipts, $877 ; disbursements, $926. Officers-President, H. S. Haskell; Vice Presidents, F. C. Curtis, J. T. Lewis; Secre- tary, C. C. Dow ; Treasurer, J. B. Dwinnell. Executive Committee-R. O. Loomis, C. C. Britt, David Owen, J. Q. Adams, J. W. Robinson, L. H. Doyle, E. Woodard, J. R. Jones and R. T. Graves.

1868-Fair held at Portage September 23, 24 and 25; receipts, $977; disbursements, $1,125, including $200 for a tent and $175 for Floral Hall. Officers-President, F. C. Curtis ; Vice Presidents, H. S. Haskell and J. T. Lewis ; Secretary, C. C, Britt ; Treasurer, J. Q. Adams. Executive Committee-J. B. Dwinnell, P. Pool, D. Owen, L. H. Doyle, T. Sander- son, F. L. Henry, I. McCall, L. Lloyd and J. Pardee.

1869-Fair held at Columbus September 22, 23 and 24; receipts, $960; disbursements, $780; 700 entries were made, which was far in excess of any previous year. Officers-Presi- dent, F. C. Curtis; Vice Presidents, H. S. Haskell and J. T. Lewis ; Secretary, L. H. Doyle ; Treasurer, J. Q. Adams. Executive Committee-J. B. Dwinnell, E. F. Lewis, R. O. Loomis, A. G. Cook, F. L. Henry, E. Fairbanks, M. W. Twitchell, J. R. Jones and David H. Langdon.

1870-Fair held at Portage September 21, 22 and 23; receipts, $909; disbursements, $867. Officers-President, A. G. Cook; Vice Presidents, H. S. Haskell and F. C. Curtis ; Secretary, L. H. Doyle ; Treasurer, J. Q. Adams. Directors (one from each town)-G. A. Clark, J. S. Richmond, F. F. Farnham, J. R. Jones, S. M. Carr, C. Baker, J. Foster, E. Fair- banks, J. W. Robinson, J. Ewing, J. B. Dwinnell, F. L. Henry, M. H. Smith, E. T. Hooker, D. Buchanan, B. F. Flower, C. Collipp, G. Perry, P. Houston, I. McCall, J. Van Ness and M. W. Twitchell.

1871-Fair held at Columbus September 19, 20 and 21; receipts, $1,267 ; disbursements, $1,248 ; entries, 700. Officers-President, A. G. Cook ; Vice Presidents, H. S. Haskell and F. C. Curtis ; Secretary, L. H. Doyle ; Treasurer, J. Q. Adams. Directors-John H. Young, John S. Richmond, F. F. Farnham, J. R. Jones, J. Mckenzie, C. Baker, J. Foster, E. Fair- banks, C. L. Brown, J. Ewing, J. B. Dwinnell, F. L. Henry, G. Smith, M. H. Smith, S. Jones, B. F. Flower, R. O. Loomis, G. G. Marvin, P. Houston, K. Scott, J. Van Ness and D. S. Bushnell.

1872-Fair held at Portage September 18, 19 and 20; receipts, $761; disbursements, $954. Officers-President, E. Fairbanks ; Vice Presidents, F. C. Curtis and L. W. Barden ; Secretary, L. H. Dovle : Treasurer, J. Q. Adams. Directors-G. H. Clark, D. Owen, J. R. Jones, Henry Morse, H. Jamieson, E. S. Baker, J. Foster, S. Hasey, C. L. Brown, J. Ewing, J. B. Dwinnell, F. L. Henry, E. Woodard, G. F. Noble, J. Batty, J. L. Porter, C. Collipp, G. G. Marvin, P. Houston, J. R. Rowlands, J. Van Ness and M. W. Twitchell.

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HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

1873-Fair held at Columbus September 17, 18 and 19; receipts, $1,115 ; disbursements, $1,032. Officers-President, E. Fairbanks ; Vice Presidents, L. W. Barden and F. C. Curtis ; Secretary, L. H. Doyle ; Treasurer, J. Q. Adams. Directors-G. F. Richardson, D. Owen, J. R. Jones, Henry Morse, H. Jamieson, E. S. Baker, J. Foster, S. Hasey, S. J. Scott, E. F. Lewis, J. B. Dwinnell, F. L. Henry, E. Woodard, G. F. Noble, D. Buchanan, A. Coapman, C. Collipp, G. G. Marvin, P. Houston, J. R. Rowlands, J. Van Ness and M. W. Twitchell.

1874-Fair held at Portage September 29 and 30 and October 1; receipts, $1,012; dis- bursements, $925. Officers-President, L. W. Barden ; Vice Presidents, F. C. Curtis and D. Buchanan ; Secretary, L. H. Doyle; Treasurer, J. Q. Adams. Directors-T. Graham, J. Ewing, E. Woodard, I. W. York, R. C. Rockwood, J. Marvin, D. H. Langdon, O. R. Luey, J. T. Lewis, G. Richards, J. Foster, E. Fairbanks, T. Thompson, J. R. Rowlands, R. Lloyd, D. Owen, J. McKenzie, T. Sanderson, J. B. Dwinnell, F. L. Henry, B. F. Flower, J. Van Ness and D. S. Bushnell.

1875-Fair held at Portage September 28, 29 and 30; receipts, $1,087 ; disbursements, $1,045. Officers-President, R. C. Rockwood ; Vice Presidents, F. C. Curtis and J. Van Ness ; Secretary, L. H. Doyle ; Treasurer, J. Q. Adams. Directors-G. Perry, G. Paine, Z. Merrill, C. Baker, E. F. Lewis, C. A. Noyes, S. M. Carr, E. E. Chapin, G. Robinson, E. Roys, P. Boutwell, J. Foster, G. Richards, S. Huntley, J. Collins, D. Owen, W. Reedal, F. L. Henry, C. L. Brown, W. M. Bartholomew, B. F. Flower, R. Wilson, O. D. Vandusen.

1876-Fair held at Portage September 26, 27 and 28; receipts, $1,135 ; disbursements, $1,314. Officers-President, F. C. Curtis ; Vice Presidents, V. E. Brewer ; and J. Foster Secretary, E. S. Baker ; Treasurer, J. Q. Adams. Directors-J. Whitney, W. McDonald, M. H. Smith, P. G. Stroud, E. S. Purdy, G. G. Marvin, D. H. Langdon, J. W. Leffingwell, J. J. Sutton, J. R. Jones, H. C. Field, E. Roys, K. Scott, A. C. Jennings, Louis Lintner, D. Owen, N. P. Irons, T. Sanderson, J. B. Dwinnell, G. W. Webb, J. F. Warren, J. Van Ness and C. Spear. F. C. Curtis delivered an address on butter making and the care of cows.

1877-Fair held at Portage September 18, 19 and 20; receipts, $2,441 ; disbursements, $2,867 (including $1,500 paid for the Floral Hall). The society's financial standing at that date is figured up as follows : New Floral Hall, built by Lewis Green, A. Carnagie, architect, $1,500 ; fixtures, library, etc., $450; total, $1,950. Deduct $409 indebtedness, and the soci- ety considered itself worth $1,540. Officers-President, F. C. Curtis ; Vice Presidents, V. E. Brewer and C. L. Brown ; Secretary, Z. J. D. Swift ; Treasurer, J. A. Adams. Directors- L. Lintner, H. J. Fisk, M. Adams, M. H. Smith, E. F. Lewis, A. B. Stearns, E. S. Purdy, D. S. Merrell, W. Morris, D. H. Langdon, G. Richards, J. E. McMahon, S. Hasey, D. Buchanan, S. Scott, D. Owen, J. Mckenzie, S. J. Scott, J. Wilson, Jr., S. Dunn, J. L. Porter, J. Van Ness and W. Yale.

1878-Fair held at Portage September 24, 25 and 26; receipts, $1,368; expenditures, $1,938. Officers-President, L. W. Barden ; Vice Presidents, D. Buchanan and D. Richards ; Secretary, Z. J. D. Swift ; Treasurer, J. Q. Adams. Directors-L. Lintner, H. J. Fisk, A. W. Ingalsbee, M. H. Smith, E. F. Lewis, A. B. Stearns, W. W. Corning, C. Baker, J. San- derson, C. F. Roberts, C. Lawrence, H. Stanley, J. Jones, J. Foster, C. Roys, K. Scott, G. Hall, D. Owen, W. Reedal, T. Sanderson, J. B. Dwinnell, F. C. Curtis and J. Van Ness.

1879-Fair held at Portage September 16, 17 and 18; receipts, $1,499; disbursements, $1,493. Officers-President, D. Buchanan ; Vice-Presidents, G. Richards and W. Currie ; Secretary, Z. J. D. Swift ; Treasurer, G. Yule. Directors-L. Lintner, D. Owen, J. Lloyd, H. J. Fisk, J. Q. Adams, D. McCulloch, J. Foster, J. Whitney, C. Roys, W. McDonald, C. L. Brown, C. J. Pardee, G. Bartholomew, F. C. Curtis, D. B. Herrman, A. B. Stearns, K. Scott, B. F. Flower, W. W. Corning, W. Morris, L. H. Langden, A. C. Jennings and Isaac Van Ness.

At a meeting of the Board of Directors, beld February 24, 1880, it was decided to hold the next fair at Portage, September 13, 14 and 15, 1880. It was also decided to issue compli- mentary tickets to editors and clergymen, and the Treasurer's bond was fixed at $1,000. The

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HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

present indebtedness of the society is $597.50. Article XII, of the society's rules and regula- tions, contains the following : "No games of chance, or pools on horse-racing will be allowed on the grounds during the fair, and the sale of malt and spirituous liquors is strictly prohibited." And it is worthy of remark that its provisions have been implicitly adhered to.

Union Fair .- A meeting was called to assemble at the building of Leuders & Krause, in Columbus, Saturday, August 7, 1875, to consider the propriety of organizing an agricultural society, composed of people living in that vicinity. On motion, A. G. Cook was made Chair- man, and H. D. Bath, Secretary. On taking the chair, Mr. Cook said that he supposed all understood the object of the present meeting was to determine whether a fair for this section of the country should be held at or near the city that fall, and declared the question open for con- sideration. C. L. Dering understood the object to be also the election of officers. He stated that Capt. Wisner had the Beaver Dam subscription, and had the consent of the persons named thereon to transfer the same to Columbus. The amount that had been secured was $215, and this was without any special effort, and when only $200 had been asked. The Chairman said it was customary when such bodies were organized to adopt articles of association. ' As it was proposed to make this fair a permanent institution, that course, doubtless, would be proper. G. W. Hazelton said at the suggestion of some parties he had drafted some resolutions which could be used if desired. He supposed it was the design of the people living contiguous to Columbus to organize a local fair. Fairs have lately become local expositions. On account of the small premiums necessarily offered, it was impossible to draw competition any great distance. No antagonism was meditated against the Columbia County fair. It was designed merely to make this a local organization for the benefit of people contiguous to Columbus, and to accommodate a section not accommodated by any other fair as they are now located. He then read the sub- joined resolutions.

The citizens of the counties of Columbus, Dodge and Dane, residing in, and within convenient distance of' Columbus, assembled, pursuant to notice, at llolmes' Hall, in said city, August 6, 1875, for the purpose of taking into consideration the organization of a local fair, to be held at or near said city, do hereby adopt the following resolutions, viz .:

Resolved, For the purpose of bringing together annually, or so often as may be deemed best, at the city of Colum- bus, all persons interested in a periodical exposition of stock, farm products, specimens of mechanical skill, of the fine arts, etc., we do hereby organize a fair to be known as the Columbus Union Fair, and cordially invite the co-opera- tion herein of the surrounding towns.

Resolved, That the officers of the Columbus Uniou Fair shall consist of a President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer, and an executive committee of five persons shall hereafter be elected annually, for the term of one year.

Resolved, That the said officers and the said executive committee shall, until a code of by-laws shall be prepared and adopted, be fully empowered to take hold of this subject, and make all needful rules and regulations to carry out the purposes of this organization ; to fix a time and place for holding the fair ; to prepare and publish a list of Judges. together with a premium list, and to do all acts and things necessary in the premises, and that a majority of said officers, including the committee, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

Resolved, That the following persons are hereby designated and elected as officers for the current year, and until their successors shall be duly chosen.

The following officers were then elected : President, Clarendon Roys, of Hampden ; Vice President, J. Webster, of Elba ; Secretary, C. L. Dering, of Columbus ; Treasurer, M. Adams, of Columbus. The following gentlemen were selected as the Executive Committee : John Fos- ter, of Fountain Prairie ; E. Fairbanks, of Hampden; G. Weeks, of York ; J. J. Sutton, of Colum- bus ; C. K. Stewart, of Elba. Mr. Hazelton suggested that the working committee ought not to be too cumbersome, and favored the appointment of a co-operation of one from each of eight or ten adjoining towns, to take hold of the fair and help make it a success. The following were at length selected as such committee : W. A. Pulver, Otsego ; Henry Fields, Fountain Prairie : Levi Nelson, Hampden; W. W. Drake, Columbus; Harvey Baxter, Bristol; Eli Sherman. York ; S. Austin, Portland ; H. J. Roberts, Elba ; William Williams, Calamus. On motion of G. W. Hazelton, A. G. Cook, of Columbus, was added as Chairman of the above committee. Mr. Cook expressed the opinion that a permanent fair could be organized, and that it would not be difficult in time to raise money to erect suitable buildings, and, perhaps, purchase the required

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HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

grounds. C. L. Dering moved that a committee of three be appointed by the chair to solicit aid and obtain the funds necessary for immediate use. Adopted. Adam McConnell, M. B. Misner and Dr. D. C. Davies were selected as such committee.

The first fair of the society was held on the 6th, 7th and 8th days of October, 1875, and was a complete success financially and otherwise. The total receipts were $1,587.50, from which were paid out for premiums, $894; general expenses, $395.66 ; Secretary's office, $31 ; leaving a balance on hand of $263.84.

The second annual fair was held October 10, 11, 12 and 13, 1876. Total receipts, $1,917.99. Paid for premiums, $1,319.80 ; expenses, $543.79; Secretary's expenses, $54.40. The exhibition was a success, but financially it was not satisfactory. The officers of the society were the same as the previous year.

In 1877, another successful fair was held. The total receipts were $1,730.55; premiums paid, $1,166.82 ; fair expenses, $510.85 ; Secretary's office, $52,88. The fair was held the 3d, 4th, 5th and 6th of October. The officers at this time were John Foster, President ; Chas. L. Dering, Secretary ; M. Adams, Treasurer.

In 1878, the fair was held September 18, 19, 20 and 21, with total receipts amounting to $562.17, from which premiums were paid of $200; expenses, $288.66 ; Secretary's office, $50. Owing to a storm which destroyed the main building during the second day of the fair, the latter was a comparative failure. Officers for the year, James Webster, President ; Charles L. Dering, Secretary, M. Adams, Treasurer.

The officers for 1879 were James Webster, President; M. Adams, Secretary ; L. Birdsey, Treasurer ; the annual fair was held September 24, 25 and 26, with total receipts of $1,199.11, from which were paid for premiums $740.50; fair expenses, $321.24; Secretary's office, $45 ; leaving a balance on hand of $42.37. It was a success in every particular, greatly encouraging to its officers and friends.

The exhibition grounds of the society are owned by A. W. Ingalsbee, and are situated one- half mile northeast of the city, and are well adapted for the purpose. The society is not a joint-stock company, and was formed simply by the people organizing and electing officers. Its resources consist in the proceeds of their exhibitions, after expenses are paid, together with $100 anually appropriated by the State.

Lodi Union Agricultural Society .- The Columbia County Agricultural Society had its annual exhibition in the village of Lodi September 22, 23 and 24, 1863. The fair was a suc- cess financially and otherwise ; the attendance was good, although but few attended outside of the towns immediately surrounding. This fact suggested to James O. Eaton, of Lodi, the idea of an organization of a union fair composed of citizens of neighboring towns. In the issue of the Lodi Herald, October 7, 1863, was published from his pen, the following letter :

"EDITOR HERALD :- Permit me through your columns to call the attention of the farmers and others interested in agricultural matters, in the towns of Dekorra, West Point, Lodi and Arlington, in Columbia County, and Roxbury, Dane and Vienna, in Dane County, to the propriety of organizing a union agricultural society. At the fair recently held in this place, the receipts were nearly $600, and probably not $25 of the amount were received from persons living beyond the limits of these towns, while a number of premiums went beyond the limits of those towns in Columbia County ; and those towns in Dane County, which contributed largely to the receipts of the fair, received no part in the disbursement of the premiums. That those towns in this county are, as regards county fairs, isolated from the balance of the county, was fully demon- strated by the non-attendance at the fair in this place, of persons living in other portions of the county. Nature intended that these towns in Dane County should affiliate with those in Colum- bia County, and it is self-evident that the people do not intend to deviate from the course pointed out by nature. Lodi as a central point would give but a short distance for gathering together of stock, and from the fact that all these towns are first-class agricultural towns, but little effort would be necessary to get up and sustain from year to year, one of the most successful fairs in the State.

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HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

" What say you, gentlemen agriculturists, to having a meeting of the friends of the enterprise, for the purpose of organizing such an association ? *

"LODI, October 5."

It was not until 1866, that the suggestions of the letter were carried out. A preliminary meeting for the organization of the society was held at the Lyon House, in the village of Lodi, July 28, 1866, pursuant to the following call :

All persons in the towns of Roxbury, Dane, Vienna, West Point, Dekorra, Arlington and Lodi, who are in favor of organizing a union agricultural society, are requested to meet at the Lyon House on Saturday, July 28, at 3 o'clock P. M., to organize such a society.

[Signed]

July 23, 1866.

MANY CITIZENS.

At this meeting, James O. Eaton was elected temporary Chairman, and George Yule, tem- porary Secretary. On motion, it was resolved that the meeting proceed to organize an agricult- ural society, embracing the towns of Roxbury, Dane and Vienna, in Dane County, and Wes- Point, Dekorra, Arlington and Lodi, in Columbia County. It was also voted that the organizat tion be known as the Lodi Union Agricultural Society. Richard Lindsay, W. S. Schermerhorn and Alpheus King were appointed a committee to draft a constitution and by-laws to be sub- mitted at the annual meeting in October. Alpheus King, of Dane, was elected President ; H. W. Cass, of Lodi, Secretary, and H. M. Ayre, of Lodi, Treasurer.

The first fair of the society was held in the village of Lodi, October 2, 3 and 4, 1866, and was regarded as a success. Annual fairs have since been held up to and including 1879, from which were received from all sources $13,872.72, of which amount have been expended for premiums, $6,652.55 ; rent of grounds, $1,295 ; fitting up of grounds, $2,938.12. It has paid its premiums in full every year, excepting in 1878, when the weather was so unfavorable the fair was a comparative failure.

A constitution and by-laws were adopted at the annual meeting in October, 1866. The officers of the society from that date to 1880 have been as follows: 1866-Alpheus King, of Dane, President ; H. W. Cass, of Lodi, Secretary ; H. M. Ayre, of Lodi, Treasurer. 1867- Alpheus King, of Dane, President ; H. W. Cass, of Lodi, Secretary ; H. M. Ayre, of Lodi, Treasurer. 1868-Alpheus King, of Dane, President ; H. W. Cass, of Lodi, Secretary ; H. M. Ayre, of Lodi, Treasurer. 1869-Fred Perry, of West Point, President; H. W. Cass, of Lodi, Secretary ; H. M. Ayre, of Lodi, Treasurer. 1870-Jonas Narrecong, of Lodi, Presi- dent; H. W. Cass, of Lodi, Secretary ; J. B. Dwinnell, of Lodi, Treasurer. 1871-Jonas Narrecong, of Lodi, President; Isaac Van Ness, of West Point, Secretary ; J. B. Dwinnell, of Lodi, Treasurer. 1872-P. S. Kingsley, of Lodi, President; Isaac Van Ness, of West Point, Secretary ; J. B. Dwinnell, of Lodi, Treasurer. 1873-P. S. Kingsley, of Lodi, President ; Isaac Van Ness, of West Point, Secretary ; J. B. Dwinnell, of Lodi, Treasurer. 1874- Robert Steelc, of Dane, President; E. W. Gardner, of Lodi, Secretary ; D. C. Stanley, of Vienna, Treasurer (died during the year). 1875-Robert Steele, of Dane, President ; E. . W. Gardner, of Lodi, Secretary ; P. S. Kingsley, of Lodi, Treasurer. 1876-J. T. Collins, of Arlington, President ; E. W. Gardner, of Lodi, Secretary ; P. S. Kingsley, of Lodi, Treasurer. 1877-J. O. Eaton, of Lodi, President; E. W. Gardner, of Lodi, Secretary ; J. Caldwell, of Arlington, Treasurer. 1878-J. O. Eaton, of Lodi, President ; E. W. Gardner, of Lodi, Sec- retary ; J. Caldwell, of Arlington, Treasurer. 1879-Robert Steele, of Dane, President; E. W. Gardner, of Lodi, Secretary ; Job Mills, of Lodi, Treasurer. 1880-A. A. Boyce, of Vienna, President ; E. W. Gardner, of Lodi, Secretary ; Job Mills, of Lodi, Treasurer.

At a special meeting of the Executive Committee, held February 12, 1870, a contract was made with James McCloud for grounds for a period of five years, for the purpose of holding the annual fairs, Mr. McCloud to fit up and furnish the same for the convenience of the fair, and to receive an annual rent therefor of $250.

At the annual meeting of the society, August 30, 1873, on petition of Thomas Sanderson and twenty-five other freeholders of the town of Leeds, that town was admitted to all the privi- leges of the society.

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HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

In 1875, an arrangement was made with the Lodi Driving Park Association, by which the " society was to have the use of their park for fair purposes, and its meetings have since been held at that place. The grounds have been well fitted up for all purposes of an agricultural society. One of the best half-mile tracks in the State affords an opportunity for the display or training of fast horses ; an art hall, 34x110 feet, suitably arranged for the display of such arti- cles as are found therein, and a hall for agricultural products, are among the attractions. At this time (1880), the society has no floating debt, but is owing $675, due in 1884, contracted for fitting up the grounds. By legislative action, it has been placed on the same footing, for State aid, as the county societies.

POTTERS' JOINT-STOCK EMIGRATION SOCIETY.

In 1844, the Potters' Union, of Staffordshire, England, was supporting in idleness a large number of unemployed potters, at an expense of some £70 per week. The idea was then con - ceived of organizing an emigration society, in order to give these unemployed men, or others `of their trade, an opportunity of emigrating to America, where lands were cheap and where industry would surely be rewarded, thus relieving their country of surplus labor, and enabling those that remained to obtain better wages. It was argued that a redundancy of hands depre- ciates the value of labor and lowers it in price ; if, therefore, any plan could be acted upon by which that redundancy could be destroyed, an efficient blow would be given to the cause of labor's wrongs. "Low prices are the effect of surplus labor ; surplus labor is a consequence of the increasing power of production and the ignorance of the working classes. If the working classes had possessed intelligence, the millions of money expended by them in battling with effects-in useless strikes for a raise of price when starving men were in the land, and prepared to work at any price-would have been devoted to a more sterling object; to the eradicating of the cause that produced low prices, and the consequent distress that has existed and that now exists among the working classes of this empire."*

It was to this process of reasoning that the potters of Staffordshire owed the existence of their joint-stock emigration society. If a general plan of emigration could be brought into practical operation, the £70 per week being expended could speedily be dispensed with, by the removal of its claimants to happy homes in this Western World, where they would not have to starve on the charitable pittance of their brethren and to waste their days in idleness. but where all the powers of their existence would be called into active operation, and where industry and economy would be certain of producing independence in the progress of time.

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The history of Columbia county, Wisconsin, containing an account of its settlement, Part 69

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899, [from old catalog] ed; Western historical company, chicago, pub. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company Number of Pages: 1104

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899, [from old catalog] ed; Western historical company, chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 1104